The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-04-03
ONE OF KISSANE'S CRIMES.
His Connection with the Tragedy Re-
sulting from Steamboat Conspiracy.
Sidney Burton's Earnest Work in Attempt
ing to Bring the Criminals to Justice, and
How They Managed to Escape.

mo rrow: The discovery OF kissane in Califor-
nia. O. rich, prosperous, reputable citizen, and
his supposed Identification with the noted forger
and criminal who was twice indicted in New
York for forgery committed upon the Chemical
Bank and sent to the penitentiary, has aroused
public attention in Cleveland. This is the man
who is believed to have been one of the leaders in
che great Martha Washington steamboat con-
fpiracy at Cincinnati a tragedy that was con-
animated upon the Mississippi river, by
which that steamer was burned, its cargo and
several lives destroyed, in 1851 aud which. at
the time, occasioned the arrest and trial of the
criminals engaged in the plot and produced as
known to arise from criminal prosecution. The
defendant, Kissane, and others, were engaged as
wholesale boot and shoe dealers at Cincinnati,
the buying and selling of wool. dealing in
leather and other commodities They purchased
the steamboat Martha Washington, loaded her,
apparently, with a costly freight, had the cargo
insured for a large sum, and sent her down the
Mississippi, regularly consigned to their CORE
Bpondents at New Orleans. The captain was
enc of the conspirators, and had charge of the
whole plot and its execution. The cargo,
supposed to be composed of boxes of boots
and shoes, leather wool and other valuable mer-
cnandise, was in reality made up of refuse ma
terial of no value and the boxes so carefully
Fastened and marked to their owners were hed
with wood, stone and rubbish of every character.
At certain time, when passengers and crew
we're quietly sleeping, and at moment when
the act could be the most safely committed, the
captain was to fire the vessel in such manner as
20 insure its destruction, and then the conspira-
tors We're to collect the insurance upon the vessel
and valuable cargo as a total loss
Apparently, everything succeeded as planned.
The cargo was publicly and carefully placed on
board and no suspicion excited as to its charac-
ter or genuineness. The captain was we'll known,
and the vessel sailed upon her voyage with her
cargo richly insured. At certain tine
she took fire. The fire spread with
uncomfortable rapidity, the crew and officers took
20 the boats and most of the lives were saved.
Nobody doubted that the terrible accident was
one of those incidents inseparable from the dan
gers of navigation, and the captain and owners
were sympathized with as sufferers who had met
rnmerited misfortune. In due time the schedule
o. losses was carefully prepared the proofs of
the merchandise destroyed laid before the under
writers, and so far as human foresight could
discover, there was objection to the payment
and the crime of Kissane and his associates was
about to be satisfactorily contaminated.
At this time there lived in Cleveland well
known citizen named Sidney Burton. He was
of excellent character, we'll liked by his neigh
bors, of considerable influence, and prominent
business man. He had quite intimate dealings
wit. Kissane and his partners at Cincinnati,
and was on terms of friendship with them. The
origin of his suspicion cannot be traced now,
but on the trial he swore that at one time he
overheard of the partners in the counting
room cursing God Almighty because they heard
nothing of the fate of the steamer. In any
.vent these people owed Burton money. 1t
was not paid, and Burton, whose suspicious
wers keenly aroused to the character
OF these persons. began to investigate
the history of the lost steamer. He
gave notice to the insurance companies
OF his belief in the fact that great crime had
been committed. and with the patience and I'M
firing diligence of trained detective he began
his work. AS he progressed in making proof
after proof that satisfied his own mind as to the
nature and magnitude of the fraud he became
almost m6nomaniac upon the subject. He
abandoned his business at home, his family,
spent his own money eagerly and lavishly in
pursuit of his ends, and at last his efforts
crowned with success. The insurance panies
all refused to pay, and suits We're instituted to
compel them. Finally all the conspirators were
arrested and taken TO Columbus for hearing
before United States commissioner.
United States District Attorney Morton, of
Toledo. assisted by Hon. Henry Stanbery in
the prosecution, and defendants counsel covered
large number of the most eminent lawyers in
Ohio, among them Noah H. Swayne and Thomas
Ewing. The defendants went to Columbus
compaDied by their wives and relatives. They
were fine body of people, male and female
some twenty or thirty in number. had plenty of
money, considerable social influence. and excited
The greatest interest among men OF all classes.
Mr.. Burton gave his testimony. and the
whole proof was carefully gone over. The
result was the binding over of the prison
ers TO the United States Court and
soon after bills of indictment for conspir-
acy were found against them. From
the day the defendants were bound over upon
the testimony discovered by Burton the latter
never for moment abandoned his pursuit of
the case. He spent his money with absolute
freedom, travelling hundreds of miles by rail and
steamer, on horseback and on foot, looking up
testimony necessary to convict. The writer of
this was present at the trial of the case before
Justice Mclean. The venerable Thomas Ewing
and the able counsel, Mr.. Swayne, were assisted
by the most eminent lawyers of the Cincinnati
bar. The trial lasted for weeks. The female
: friends of the defendants swarmed about Column
bus in and out of court. The testimony was
overwhelming to the prisoners guilt.
Proof of the character of the cargo,
its worthlessness and fraudulent insurance,
was amply furnished, and few doubted the
gang would meet punishment. On the conclu-
sion of Mr. Burton's testimony, which, upon all
important points, had been clear and straight
forward, but upon side issue shaken by the
COOL insolent, persistent, skillful cross-eXamina-
ton by COL Swayne. the prosecution rested
their case and to the establishment of all the de-
Tense, after calling few witnesses, at once sub
mitted their ease to the jury. This was done as
n clever trick There was no real defense, and
10th Ewing and Swayne dared not allow Mr..
Stanbery to have the closing argument to the
jury. The United States attorney, Mr.. Morton
wholly unprepared to address the jury, but
he did the best he could upon the mo-
Inent The defense again submitted the case uc
the court. without argument, thus cutting of
Stanbery, and, in effect, placing themselves
wholly in the hands Of the judge. Judge Nc
Lean charged the jury so strangely that the jury
presented a verdict OF not guilty and this gang
Of criminals, the worst Ohio had ever known
escaped conviction. Kissane was specially
noted. Wholesome and som ewhat attractive il
person, very fluent speaker, with bland ant
innocent manner, very we'll dressed and Away.
appearing like gentleman and refined person
he managed to gain largely the sympathy of tn,
ypcctators. The verdict broke the heart of Mr.
Burton He seemed dazed by the shock, and
his occupation gone, he returned to Cleveland
bankrupt in fortune, having spent owe
e0O 600 in the pursuit of thes
rascals; his interest in life ceased
and not long after, he died His fate caused
great sympathy at the time, and he was regarded
with special interest Some effort made t,
reimburse him for his money expended, but tn
verdict of mot guilty was conclusive with tn
government, and for his long and wearsom
trials and unsefsh laoors he received no re
ward. Soon after the trial the gang Q
scoundrels separated aud left Cincinnati
They were marked as guilty, aud bein,
regarded robbers and murderers, they stun
at last out of sight. kissane, the most brilliau
of the party, went South. was indicted in Arkar
sas for murder (the Martha Washington havin